Manifolding attachment for typewriters



M. L. cossm. MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRTTERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, I92].

Patented Oct. 24, 1922.

[mu end Um W4 Patented ct. ea, 11

5i ia-J MALCOLM L. CGSSITT, OF ALAMEDA,- CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO MANIFOLD IMPRESSIONS CORPORATION, OF CARSON CIT-F, NEVADA, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

MANIFOLDING ATTACEMENT FOB TYPEWRITERS.

Application filed December 10, 1921. Serial Ito. 521,829.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MALCOLM L. Cossrrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manifolding Attachments for Typewriters, of which the following is a specification.

M invention relates to the/class of manifolding attachments for typewriters and like type-impact machines, in which one or more manifolding members, associated with suit-.

able carrying devices on the platen-carriage of the machine, are adapted to be moved into and out of functional position in the line of type-impact.

My present invention comprises means for storing or housing said manifolding members within the typewriter platen, and adapting them to be drawn out therefrom to the r association with their carrying devices, in order to present successive sections for use, so that each exhausted section may be torn off and replaced by drawing out its successor. It also comprises novel means for automatically changing the position of the manifolding section in use with respect to its width. at each line-spacing of the platen, so that it may be used over practica 1y its entire width.- It also comprises novel details of construction and arrangement, all of which will hereinafter fully appear, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end view of my manifolding attachment, showing one of the manifolding-ribbon carrying-arms down in functional position and another elevated out of use.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, broken, of the same. I

Fig. 3 is a Ian-view, broken, of the same, the platen being in section to show its housing chamber, and the mounting of the ribhon-spools therein.

Fig. 4 is an end sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section of the platen through its chamber, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of-the ribbonguide which lies within the platen chamber.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectlon on the line 7 -7 of Fig. 8 showing a modification in storing the manifolding ribbons.

Fig. 8 is a section of the same on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

1 indicates the laten-carriage of a typewriter and 2 the p aten, having a shaft 3 to to rotate it for line spacing in the usual manner.

In one end of the platen 2 is made a chamber 2 and within this chamber is housed a spool 4 freely rotatable upon the platenshaft 3, Figs. 3 and 5. There may be a plurality of these spools, here shown as two, each being independent of the other. Mounted upon a fixed bar 5 of the platen-carriage is a bracket 6, one near each end, as shown in Fig. 3. The free end of one of these brackets is secured as by screws 6, Fig. 1, to the head of a sleeve 6" 1 ing within the chamber 2 of the platen. ithin the sleeve and secured thereto is a hollowguide-member 7 which surrounds the spools 4. This guide member is provided with a ripheral slit 7 at an angle to its axis. F g. 6. In this case there are two such slits, as shown. The sleeve 6" and guide member 7 because of their connection with the bracket 6 mounted on the fixed bar 5, are non-rotatable, and the platen has therefore its usual line-spacing rotation on its own shaft axis without any interference offered b said sleeve and guide-member, though a parts being mounted on the platen-carriage, move together from side to side of the machine as usual.

Upon each spool 4 is wound a manifolding ribbon 8 of any suitable nature. One of these ribbons is drawn from its spool and passes through one of the slits 7' of the guide member 7, by which it .is diverted into a course parallel with the platen axis, as seen in Fig. 3, and thence out through an opening 9 in the head of the sleeve 6". The other ribbon has a similar course through the other slit 7 which is guarded by a cleat 7 to carry the ribbon to a different plane in order to avoid interference with the first ribbon. Upon the brackets 6 at each end are pivoted at 10' the carrying arms 10, two being here shown at each end. These arms, one at each end, are connected in pairs in the rods 11 to efi'ect their movement in unison. The arms at one end are shown as formed with handles 12 to conveniently move them about their pivots at 10, and said arms are rovided with guide slots 13 and impaling ugs 14. The opposite arms drawn out from their housed spools are first Lddhldlj carried through the guide slots 13 of the handled arms 10, and thence in front of the impaling lugs 14 and thence over to the im' paling lugs 14 of the other arms, and by being temporarily impaled upon said lugs are held under proper tension parallel with the platen. By simply disengaging them from the impaling teeth they may be drawn out repeatedly, in order to present successive sections in functional position, as preceding sections become exhausted through use, said worn out sections being cut or torn off at or beyond the farther arm.

In operating the attachment, the arms 10 are normally elevated to hold the ribbon out of the way. If but one carbon copy be desired, a pair of arms are turned down, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to carry their ribbon into functional position in the line of typeimpact. The slack of the ribbon between its place of emergence from the platen and the adjacent arm as indicated in Fig. 1, permits the movement of the arms. \Vhen the section of the ribbon between the arms is used up. the operator releases it from the impaling lugs and then draws the ribbon forward until a fresh section. paid off from the spool housed within the platen chamber, is brought between the arms and is again impaled. The used section is now cut or torn off and discarded. If two carbon copies are required. both pairs of arms, with their corresponding ribbons, are moved into functional position, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to provide for an adjustment of the ribbon in the direction of its width. at each line spacing of the platen, so that when in use it may be presented to the blows of the type over several longitudinal lines, I have provided a cam 15 on the platen shaft 3, as shown in Fig. 4. The ribbon carrying arms 10 rest, when down in functional position, on this cam which thus also serves as cam 15 will cause or permit the arms 10 to move. up or down as the case may be, thus slightly changing the width relation of the ribbon to the line of type impact; and, according to the contour of the cam, this change may be in successive slight steps up and down, whereby the ribbon ma be utilized over practically its whole width. In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown a modification in the storing of the ribbons within the chamber of the platen. In this'form, apertured casings 17 are supported, within the platen, and in these casings the ribbons are stored in fan-fold shape, and are adapted to be drawn out therefrom.

It will now be seen that my manifolding attachment when assembled is a simple,

compact and self-contained structure in which all the parts are carried by the specially adapted platen. In applying the device for use with existing machines. all that is necessary is to remove the old platen of the machine, and substitute my laten therefor, with its associated manifoldlng parts.

I claim i 1. A manifold attachment for typewriters comprising a chambered platen; and a manifolding member housed within the chamber of the platen and adapted to be drawn therefrom for tional position in the hue of type-impact.

2. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a chambered platen; a manifolding member housed within the chamber of the platen and adapted to be drawn therefrom. for presentment in functional position in the line of type impact; and means associated with the platen-carriage of the machine for holding said withdrawn member.

3. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a chambered platen; a manifolding member housed within the chamber of the platen and adapted to be drawn therefrom for presentment in functional position in the line of type impact; and means associated with the platen-carriage of the machine for holding said withdrawn member, and moving it into and out of saidposition. I

4. A manifolding attachment for type writers comprising a chambered platen; a manifolding member housed within the chamber of the plat-en and adapted to be drawn therefromfor presentment in functional position in the line of type impact; and a pair of movable, spaced arms associated with the platen carriage of the machine to receive and hold said withdrawn member and move into and out of said position.

5. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a chambered platen; a manifolding member housed within the chamber of the platen and adapted to be drawn therefrom for presentment in functional position in the line of type-impact; and a pair of movable, spaced arms associatedwith the platen carriage of the machine. each of said arms having a guide with impaling teeth'to releasably hold said withdrawn member under tension and move it into and out of said position.

6. A manifolding attachment for typewriters, comprising a chambered platen; a fixed bracket carried by the platen-carriage of the machine and having a guide-member housed within the. chamber of the platen; a manifolding ribbon within and guided by said member to adapt it to be drawn out from the chamberof the platen for presentment in functional position in the line of type-impact; and means carried by the resentment in funcplaten-carriage of the machine for holding said withdrawn ribbon.

- 7., A manifolding attachment for type: writers, comprising a chambered platen; a fixed bracket carried by the platen-carriage of the machine and having a guide-member housed Within the chamber of the platen; a manifolding ribbon within and guided by said member to adapt it to be drawn out from the chamber of the platen for presentment in functional position in the line of type-impact; and means carried by the platen-carriage of the machine for holding said withdrawn ribbon, and moving it into and out of said position. v

8. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a chambered platen, a fixed bracket carried by the platen-carriage of the machine and having a guide-member housed Within the chamber of the platen; a manifolding ribbon within and guided by said member to adapt it to be drawn out from the chamber of the platen for presentment in functional position in the line of type=impact; and a pair of spaced arms movably connected with the bracket to receive and hold said withdrawn ribbon and move it into and out of saidlp'osition.

9. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a chambered platen having a shaft for turning it; a spool mounted for independent rotation upon said shaft within the chamber of the platen; and a manifoldin ribbon mounted upon the spool and adapted to be drawn out from the platen chamber for presentment in functional position in the line of type impact.

10. A'manifolding attachment for time writers comprising a chambered platen having a shaft for turning it; a spool mounted for independent rotation upon said shaft within the chamber of the platen; a non-rotatable guide member within said chamber; and a manifolding ribbon mounted upon the spool and adapted to be drawn through said guide member and out from the platenchamber for presentment in functional position in the line of type impact.

11.. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a chambered platen having a shaft for turning it; a spool mounted for independent rotation upon said shaft Within the chamber of the platen; a non-rotatable guide member within said chamber;

ing; a manifolding member; means for car-' rying said member into and out of functional position in the line of type-impact;

and a cam on the platen-shaft upon which said carrying means freely rest and adapted at each line spacing of the platen, to move said carrying means to vary the width relation of said manifolding member to the line of type impact.-

13. In a. manifolding attachment for typewriters, and in combination with a platen having a shaft for turning it for line spacing; a manifolding member; a pair of pivotally mount/ed, spaced arms adapted to carry the manifolding member into and out of functional position in the line of typeimpact; and a cam on the platen-shaft upon which said arms freely rest when the manifolding member is in functional position for moving said arms at each line spacing of the platen, to vary the width relation of said member to the line of type impact.

14. In a manifolding attachment for type- Writers. a pair of spaced arms carried by the platen carriage of the machine, said arms being provided with teeth for releasably impaling a length of manifolding ribbon carried between said arms under tension.

15. In a manifolding attachment for typewriters, amanifolding ribbon; means for carrying said ribbon on the platen-carriage of the machine, adapting it to be drawn out for presentment in the line of type impact; and a pair of spaced arms carried by the platen carriage for holding said drawn out ribbon between them, said arms having teeth for releasably impaling the ribbon to hold it under tension.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MALCOLM L. COSSITT. 

